Methods and apparatus for transmitting data in a radio communication system including signaling allocation of a common channel

Abstract

According to the invention, signalling of the used common channels is carried out implicitly via the data rate. Several combinations of channels (spread codes) are only permitted as an alternative for particular data rates of the individual services. Transmission capacity is saved since it is not necessary to reserve individual bits inside the TFCI parameter uniquely for the allocation of said common channels to different connections. The invention is especially useful in the downlink of the FDD modus of UMTS mobile radio systems.

1. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
 distinguishing channels in a broadband frequency band using individual spread codes, wherein at least one common channel is allocated to a plurality of connections existing in parallel for use at successive times; 
 signaling in-band a subsequently valid allocation of the at least one common channel for one of the plurality of connections in at least one of the channels of the data transmission using a respective TFCI value that specifies (1) combinations of data for a plurality of services to be transmitted within the at least one of the channels, (2) a data rate and (3) at least one of the individual spread codes contained in the data rate allocated to the connection; 
 agreeing upon a relationship among (1) the TFCI value and the combinations of data for a plurality of services to be transmitted within the at least one of the channels, (2) the data rate, (3) the at least one of the individual spread codes contained in the allocated data rate and (4) the at least one common channel to be used in a separate signaling channel; and 
 transmitting the data in the at least one of the channels for data transmission based on the allocation. 
 
   
   
     2. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the transmission of data occurs in a downlink direction from the base station to the plurality of subscriber stations. 
   
   
     3. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a largest possible number of channels are allocated as the common channels, with at least one channel per connection being allocated exclusively. 
   
   
     4. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the common channels are allocated for connections having a high maximum data rate. 
   
   
     5. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the common channels are allocated for connections having high data rate dynamics. 
   
   
     6. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, for a subset of the data rates, the in-band signaling can be used to select from a plurality of combinations of channels for a connection. 
   
   
     7. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a relationship between the allocated data rate and the common channels to be used is agreed upon at connection setup. 
   
   
     8. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a partial information item is used to signal in-band the individual data rates for the services within a connection and the use of one or more channels. 
   
   
     9. A radio communication system for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations, comprising:
 a plurality of channels forming the radio interface in a broadband frequency band, the plurality of channels being distinguished using individual spread codes, and at least one common channel being allocated to a plurality of connections existing in parallel for use at successive times; 
 a transmitter for transmitting a combination of data for a plurality of services on a connection within at least one channel for data transmission between the base station and the plurality of subscriber stations; and 
 a signaling device for determining and signaling a subsequently valid allocation of the common channel for a connection using a respective TFCI value that specifies (1) combinations of data for a plurality of services to be transmitted within the at least one of the channels, (2) a data rate and (3) at least one of the individual spread codes, contained in the data rate, which is allocated to the connection, via in-band signaling in at least one channel of the data transmission, wherein a relationship among (1) the TFCI values that specify combinations of data for a plurality of services to be transmitted within the at least one of the channels, (2) the data rate and (3) the at least one of the individual spread codes contained in the allocated data rate, and wherein the allocated common channel is transmitted in a separate signaling channel. 
 
   
   
     10. A method for transmitting data over a radio interface between a base station and a plurality of subscriber stations in a radio communication system, the method comprising the steps of:
 identifying individual spread codes in a plurality of channels on a broadband frequency band; 
 distinguishing said channels in accordance with said identified spread codes, wherein at least one common channel is allocated to a plurality of connections existing in parallel for use at successive times; 
 signaling in-band an allocation of the at least one common channel for one of the plurality of connections in at least one of the channels of the data transmission using a respective TFCI value that specifies (1) combinations of data for a plurality of services to be transmitted within the at least one of the channels, (2) a data rate and (3) at least one of the individual spread codes contained in the data rate allocated to the connection; 
 agreeing upon a relationship among (1) the TFCI value and the combinations of data for a plurality of services to be transmitted within the at least one of the channels, (2) the data rate, (3) the at least one of the individual spread codes contained in the allocated data rate, wherein the at least one common channel to be used is set in a separate signaling channel; and 
 transmitting the data in the at least one of the channels for data transmission based on the allocation.